Capsule Endoscopy Changes Patient Management in Routine Clinical Practice

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Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and effect of capsule endoscopy on patient management in routine clinical practice. Three hundred examinations were performed (176 females; mean age, 51 years), with a median follow-up of 17 months. Indications included overt bleeding (n = 55), anemia (n = 104), suspected Crohn’s disease (n = 68), celiac disease (n = 35), suspected functional symptoms (n = 23), polyposis (n = 5), and miscellaneous (n = 10). The overall diagnostic yield was 39%, but it was notably higher in overt bleeders, 66%, compared to 46% in the anemia group (PPP<0.001). As a result of capsule endoscopy, management was altered in 26% of patients. This study shows that capsule endoscopy has both a high diagnostic yield and an impact on subsequent patient management. These data further support the role of capsule endoscopy in routine clinical practice.